Three Riverside County projects will receive $13.5 million as part of the first round of state funding from the recent 12-cent gas tax increase.

Caltrans announced Wednesday, Feb. 7, that the massive road-repair bill known as SB 1 approved last year will help fund improvements to the 91 Freeway in Corona and Riverside and widening Temescal Canyon Road in Corona.

The California Transportation Commission approved a total of $173.4 million to 57 projects from 32 agencies around the state at its Jan. 31 meeting. It’s the first major allocation of money under the program, with more funding from different pots of money to be announced in the coming months, officials say.

“Through SB 1, local agencies can have the funding to do their part in helping us rebuild California’s transportation infrastructure,” Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty said in a news release.

The three projects that received money are being overseen by the Riverside County Transportation Commission and match local funding that has already been allocated. In some cases, the agency is also seeking additional SB 1 funding through separate pots of money.

One of the grants is for $2 million towards a project to rebuild the connecting ramp between eastbound 91 and northbound 71 in Corona — both heavily-traveled routes by commuters.

The project would replace the existing loop-shaped connector with a more direct ramp that will make it easier to traverse, said John Standiford, deputy executive director of the Riverside County Transportation Commission.

“It’s a very narrow circuitous ramp that takes you back under the freeway and around,” he said. “A flyover connector would make that movement much more efficient.”

The project would also make road improvements to the nearby Green River Road and the eastbound 91 entrance from Green River that officials say will help ease congestion.

The money will help complete an environmental study for the project, which could begin construction next year.

Also in Corona, $7.3 million was awarded to widen Temescal Canyon Road from two to four lanes, with construction set to begin this July. The busy corridor runs parallel to the 15 Freeway and is used as an alternate route to the freeway through Corona and the Temescal Valley.

The third grant, for $4.7 million, will complete a railroad bridge widening on the 91 near downtown Riverside. The commission completed a carpool lane extension project recently, with the bridge widening the last remaining piece to be completed, Standiford said. Construction is set for December.